Switch



Feb. 4, 1947. J. H. HORMAN 2,415,134

SWITCH Filed May 31, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 v dgrfik \XI/INYVENTOR ATTORN EYS Feb. 4,1947. HORMAN 2,415,134

SWITCH Filed May 31, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY-5 Feb. 4, 1947. I HORMAN 2,415,134

SWITCH Filed May 51, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 TTORNE ZS Patented Feb. 4, 1947 SWITCH John H. Horman, Tuckahoe, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Allied Control Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 31, 1943, Serial No. 489,168

9 Claims. (Cl. 200-12) This invention relates to switches.

,An object of this invention is a rotary switch which is automatically retained in closed position upon actuation to such position and may be restored to open position by remote control.

Another object of the invention is the provision in a rotary switch of means biasing it to open position and electromagnetic means effective upon the closing of the switch to overcome the bias as long as said electromagnetic means remains energized.

In one embodiment of the invention, the switch includes a shaft rotatable between a first and a second position with movable contacts carried by the shaft. Stationary contacts are provided in such arrangement that with the shaft in its first position the movable and stationary contacts are disengaged but with the shaft in its second position the movable and stationary contacts are engaged. The shaft is biased toward its first position and there is provided electromagnetic means co-operating with means carried by the shaft to retain the shaft in its second position when the electromagnet is energized. Interruption of current flow in the energizing circuit automatically renders ineffective the retaining means so that the shaft returns to its first position under the influence of its bias.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a switch embodying the invention; 7

Fig.2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3--3 of Fig.

"Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 66 of Fig.

Fig. '7 is a circuit diagram;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a modification;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a section on the line l--l0 of Fig.

Fig. 11 is a section on the line l|--l l of Fig.

Fig. 12 is a section on the line I 2-12 of Fig.

Fig. 13 is a section on the line l3-l3 of Fig. and

Fig. 14 is a circuit diagram.

A pair of rod-like members l0 support a plu-. rality of spaced metal plates H,. l2, l3, l4 and and Ma and also a plurality of disks I of insulating material. The plates H and I2 are of general elliptical configuration and in them is journalled a shaft l6 which extends through,

[ONION -e-.....

notches in the metal plates l3, l4 and Illa and through apertures in the disks l5.

Each of the plates II and I2 has fixed to it one end of a wire spring H, the other end of which extends through a notch l8 in the plate toward the remaining plate, the two notches being slightly ofiset from each other. The projecting ends [9 of the springs I! are biased toward opposite ends of the notches l8 and tend to engage such ends in spaced relation to each other. The shaft l6 carries an arm 20 which extends between the projections l9. Rotation of the shaft [6 in either direction is opposed by one of the springs I1 and the extent of permissible rotation of the shaft l6 in either direction I is limited by the length of the notches I8, the ends of which are engageable by the projections I 9 which act as stops for limiting the extent of movement of the arm 20 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. The springs bias the shaft IE to a position of rest in which the arm 20 is engaged by both projections l9.

The plates l4 and Ila support a U-shaped' member 2| of magnetic material in which is arranged the coil 22 and core 23 of an electromagnet, One leg of the U-member 2| is provided with ears Zia in which is supported a pin 24 pivotally supporting an armature 25 co-operating with the coil 22. The armature has a rightangle extension 26 having a central rib 26:; formed with sloping shoulders 21. A spring 28 biases the armature toward the core 23.

The shaft l6 extends through both legs of an L-shaped member 29 having non-round apertures and the shaft being of the same configuration so that the L-shaped member is mounted on the shaft for rotation'therewith. A set screw 30 is provided to maintain the member 29 in any desired position axially of the shaft. The long leg of the member 29 carries a fan-shaped plate.

3| which is slit as indicated at am and offset to form tabs 32 projecting slightly from-the plate toward the armature extension 26. The arrangement of the member 29 on the shaft I8 is such that with the shaft IS in its rest position the tabs 32 are symmetrically arranged with respect to the center line of the extension 26 and the rib 26a projects into the path traversed by either tab 32 upon rotation of the shaft IS in either direction from its position of rest. The plate l3 supports a bar 33 of insulating material on which are mounted terminals 34 and'35 to which are connected lead wires 35 respectively for the coil 22.

spring 23 and the pull of the electromagnet, if

energized, until a tab 32 clears-the rib 26a and opposes a shoulder 2'5 by reason of counterclockwise rotation of the armature under the infiuence of the spring 28 and the pull of the electromagnet, if energized. With the electro magnet energized, the armature is held in such position by electromagnetic force sufficient to retain the shaft in its rotated position against the bias of the spring ll. If for any reason the coilLcircuit is broken, the electromagnet becomes tie-energized and the armature is biased in the aforementioned position solely by the spring 28 which is of insuihcient strength to prevent the return movement of the shaft IE to its position of rest under the influence of the spring H.

The shoulders 21 are slightly sloping so that they, together with the tabs 32, constitute an impositive lock which is effective to overcome the bias exerted on the shaft iii by the spring l1 when the electromagnet is energized. The shaft, however, is not positively locked in its actuated position but may be returned to its rest position'by'sufiicient force applied to the shaft 16. The pull of the electromagnet is less than sufficient to retain the shafts it in either of its actuated positions against the force which may be manually applied by the average person to the shaft I6. The shaft, therefore, may be returned to its rest position by manual operation as well as by de-ene ization of the magnet through opening of the switch All. The switch 39 may be located at some distance from the device which is the subject ofthis application, thereby permitting remote control return of the shaft Hi to its rest position. -The shaft it, however,

canbe rotated only manually out of its rest position. To facilitate such manual rotation of the shaft, the electromagnet may be de-energized either by opening the switch. 39 or a similar switch conveniently placed but such switches mustbeclosed with the, shaft it retained, in actuated-position orelse the shaft. will be' returned to itsrrest position by a spring, I! immediately upon'release of the force exerted to it to put itin its actuated position. i

member 29a through both legs of which the shaft lfia passes. The armature touches the ends of the U-shaped member and core 230. but is rotatable with the shaft relative thereto. Preferably, one leg of the member Zia is shaped at its outer end to conform to the coil 22a.

A pair of resilient conductor plates or arms 42 and 43 are supported from one leg of the U- shaped member 21a by a series of insulating pads M through which extend bolts Ma threaded into the leg. The plates are insulated from each other and from the member 2|. The arm 42 has a terminal iZa while the arm 43 is provided with a terminal 3 3a and th coil 22a is connected'to a terminal a and the terminal 42a through conductors 36a. The arm 42 is shorter than the arm '43 and has a right-angle flange 45 extending toward the arm 43 while the free end of the arm 43 overlies an edge of the armaturo 25a. r V

A plate 66 is insulatinglysupported'by the member 21a between the arm 43' and an edge of the armature 25a and is held in place by bolts 4'5. This plate has an aperture in which is arranged a ball 48 for engagement by the adjacent edge of the armature 25a, such edge being provided with three recesses 49. The plate 4'3 engages the ball $8 and serves to bias it into In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 8 to 14,

' rods Illa support plates [la and Ma and a metal plate Al. The plates I l a and lzacarrysprings Ila having portions l9a extending through 'ibOth projections I 9a.

Theplate il' supports a U-shaped member gm of magnetic metal in which is arranged a coil 2217. having an iron core 23a; The member 2m" ,is attached to the plate 8| in such manner,- that I the shaft tic passes through the bight of said member and" through the coil core 2311. An armature 25a is supported by the's'haft Ito for rotation therewith by means of an L-shaped contact with the edge of the armature 25a. When the ball is received in anyone of the notches 5%, the arm 43 engages the flange 46 but when the ball is" engaged by a part of the armature edge betweenlnotches, the arm 43 is disengaged from the flange" 46. The arrangement of the notches is such that the ball is received in the center notch 49- when the shaft ita is in its rest position and in one of the other notches when the shaft is rotated in either direction the extent of its permissible movement.

In the operation of this switch, the terminal Ma is connected by a conductor 31a through a source 3311 of electrical energy'to a switch 3% fro'mwhich a conductor 48a leads to the terminal 35a." "With the switch 3911 closed, rotation of the shaft lfiatin either direction first actuates the ball "48 to disengagethe arm 43 from the arm; 32 to open circuit" the 22a. Thiscircuit remains open until'the shaft reaches approximately the limit of its movement in either direction asshown in dotted lines in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 whereupon the ball is received in one of the remaining notches thereby closing thecoil circuit and establishing magneticflux through the member Zia andarmature 25a thereby holding the shaft 16a in: actuated position against the bias of" the'spring 'lia." The shaft lea maybe 'returned to its restvposition by opening the switch 68a whereupon the magnetic pull on the armatnre'25a will be relieved and a spring I? willibe effective to returni the shaft'lEa to its rest position. Also, the shaft may be returned to its rest position'by the manual application of sufiicient force to the shaft to overcome the magnetic pullxon the armature. A-very slight rotation of the armature 25a is effective to move the ball t8. sufliciently to disengage the arm 43 from'the arm 42 thereupon opening the coil circuit and interrupting the magnetic pull. The shaft its may. then be easily returnedto'its position of rest whereupon the ball 48 enters the middle notch and re-establishes the coil circuit. Each disk i5 supports one or more sets of three contacts 5H and 52. which are radially arranged and are adapted to be connected to conductors leading to electrical apparatus to be controlled. The shaft I6 is provided with a plurality of insulating hubs 53, each of which supports three contact members 54 having a radially extending portion 55 of slightly greater width than the gap between the adjacent disk-carried contacts. The arrangement of the contacts 54 with respect to the shaft I6 is such that when the shaft is in its rest position, each portion 55 engages merely a contact Upon rotation of the shaft Hi from either rest position, the full extent of its permissible movement, the portion 55 is caused to bridge either the contact 58 and contact 5| or contact 5| and contact 52. Thus, with the shaft IS in its rest position, all the controlled circuits are open but with the shaft IS in either of its extreme positions, one half of the controlled circuits are closed with the remaining half open.

I claim:

1. In a switch, a shaft rotatable between a first and a second position, movable contacts carried by and fixed to said shaft, stationary contacts, said movable and stationary contacts being in one circuit relation with the shaft in its first position and in another circuit relation with the shaft in its second position, means biasing said shaft toward its first position, a stationary electromagnet having an armature provided with an extension, and interengageable means on said extension and said shaft for retaining said shaft in its second position when said electromagnet is energized.

2. In a switch, a shaft rotatable between a first and a second position, movable contacts carried by and fixed to said shaft, stationary contacts, said movable and stationary contacts being in one circuit relation with the shaft in its first position and in another circuit relation with the shaft in its second position, means biasing said shaft toward its first position, a stationary electromagnet having an armature provided with an extension, and an arm carried by and fixed to said shaft and engageable by said extension when the electromagnet is energized to retain said shaft in its second position.

3. In a switch, a shaft rotatable between a first and a second position, movable contacts carried by and fixed to said shaft, stationary contacts, said movable and stationary contacts being in one circuit relation with the shaft in its first position and in another circuit relation with the shaft in its second position, means biasing said shaft toward its first position, a stationary electromagnet having an armature provided with an extension member, an arm member carried by and fixed to said shaft, said two members having surfaces inter-engageable when said electromagnet is energized to retain said shaft in its second position, at least one of said surfaces being oblique to its direction of movement to produce a cam effect by said arm member on said extension member uponrotation of said shaft.

4. In a switch, a shaft rotatable between a first and a second position, movable contacts carried by said shaft, stationary contacts, said movable and stationary contacts being in one circuit relation with the shaft in its first position and in another circuit relation with the shaft in its second position, means biasing said shaft toward its first. position, an electromagnet coaxial with said shaft and having an armature rotatable therewith, a switch in series with the coil of said electromagnet and biased to closed position, and

means for opening said switch upon partial rotation of its shaft from its first to its second position and permitting said switch to close upon arrival of the shaft in its second position.

5. In a switch, a shaft rotatable between a first and a second position, movable contacts carried by said shaft, stationary contacts, said movable and stationary contacts being in one circuit relation with the shaft in its first position and in another circuit relation with the shaft in its second position, means biasing said shaft toward its first position, an electromagnet coaxial with said shaft and having an armature rotatable therewith, a switch in series with the coil of said electromagnet and biased to closed position, and means including said armature for opening said switch upon partial rotation of its shaft from its first to its second position and permitting said switch to close upon arrival of the shaft in its second position.

6. In a switch, a shaft rotatable between a first and a second position, movable contacts carried by said shaft, stationary contacts, said movable and stationary contacts being in one circuit relation with the shaft in its first position and in another circuit relation with the shaft in its second position, means biasing said shaft toward its first position, an electromagnet coaxial with said shaft and having an armature rotatable with said shaft, 2, pair of contacts biased into engagement, and means for separating said contacts upon partial rotation of said shaft from its first to its second position and permitting re-engagement of said contacts upon arrival of the shaft in its second position, said pair of contacts being in series with the coil of said electromagnet.

'7. In a switch, a shaft rotatable between a first and a second position, movable contacts carried by said shaft, stationary contacts, said movable and stationary contacts being in one circuit relation with the shaft in its first position and in another circuit relation with the shaft in its second position, means biasing said shaft toward its first position, an electromagnet coaxial with said shaft and having an armature rotatable with said shaft, a pair of contacts biased into engagement, and means including said armature for separating said contacts upon partial rotation of said shaft from its first to its second position and permitting ire-engagement of said contacts upon arrival of the shaft in its second position.

8. In a switch, a shaft rotatable between a first and a second position, movable contacts carried by said shaft, stationary contacts, said movable and stationary contacts being in one circuit relation with the shaft in its first position and in another circuit relation with the shaft in its second position, means biasing said shaft toward its first position, an electromagnet coaxial with said shaft and having an armature rotatable with said shaft, 2. pair of contacts biased into engagement, and means effective with said shaft arranged between its first and second positions to separate said contacts while permitting engagement of said contacts when the shaft is in either its first or its second position.

9. In a switch, a shaft rotatable between a first and a second position, movable contacts carried by said shaft, stationary contacts, said movable and stationary contacts being in one circuit relation with the shaft in its first position and in another circuit relation with the shaft in its second position, means biasing said shaft toward its first position, an electromagnet coaxial with 7 said shaft and having an armature attached to said shaft, a pair of contacts in series with the coil of said electromagnet and biased into engagement, and means including said armature for supporting said contacts with the shaft arranged between its first and its second position while permitting engagement of said contacts when the shaft is in either its first or its second position.

JOHN H. HORMAN.

REFERENCESv CITED The following references are of record in the 5 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,741,721 Kelty Dec. 31, 1929 1,854,166 Albertscn Apr. 19, 1932 10 1,498,090 Getchell June 1'7, 1924 

